Souza, Zuber Set School Marks as Field Hockey Rallies for Stunning 5-4 Win in OT

By Jim Fenton

WORCESTER, Mass. -- The Bridgewater State University field hockey team was in danger of losing a second straight game for the first time this season on Saturday night.

The Bears were trailing Worcester State University, 4-1, with less than 10 minutes remaining in the regular-season finale at Coughlin Field.

But BSU scored three times in the span of 5:59 to force overtime, then got a game-winning goal from a pair of record-breaking players in the extra session for a stunning 5-4 victory.

Sophomore Samantha Souza (Dartmouth, Mass.) set the BSU single-season record with her 33rd goal only 1:43 into overtime. The previous mark of 32 was set by Shelby Farland in 2012.

Junior Abbie Zuber (Westport, Mass.) assisted on the goal, her second of the game, to give her 26 career assists.

That breaks the record of 25 previously held by Bethany Bush (2007-10) and Farland (2009-12).

BSU (15-4) finished the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference season with a 10-2 record. The Bears will be the No. 2 seed in the MASCAC tournament and have a bye into the semifinal round next Thursday at Mazzaferro Field.

Worcester State (7-11, 7-5) had taken a 4-1 lead less than a minute into the fourth period and maintained that margin until 9:48 remained in the game.

That's when the Bears began their sensational comeback.

At 50:12, Zuber scored from senior Emelia Westwater (Attleboro, Mass.) to make it a 4-2 game. The goal was the 19th of the season for Zuber.

Less than a minute later, junior Madison Ellis (Attleboro, Mass.) made it 4-3 by scoring her fourth goal from Zuber at 51:04.

The Bears then tied it with 3:49 remaining in regulation, getting a goal from sophomore Kallie Rose (Dartmouth, Mass.), her 13th, from senior Raegen Perry (Nantucket, Mass.) at 56:11.

BSU had only one shot in OT and Souza made it count, converting on a three-on-one rush to spoil Worcester State's Senior Night.

The Lancers opened a 2-0 lead in the first 6:37.

Freshman Kaylie Ciccone (Douglas, Mass.) scored at 5:29 and freshman Katelynn Swistak (West Brookfield, Mass.) netted a goal at 6:37.

The Bears cut the deficit in half at 12:58 when Westwater scored her second goal of the season from Ellis.

There was no scoring in the second period, and the Lancers went up, 3-1, in the third period at 36:46 when freshman Abbey Matta (West Bridgewater, Mass.) scored from senior Charlotte MacGregor (Bellingham, Mass.).

Worcester State opened a three-goal lead at 45:45 in the final period when senior Kae Coleman (Attleboro, Mass.) scored from Swistak.

BSU senior goalkeeper Brianna Gagnon (Tewksbury, Mass.) made 11 saves to earn the win.

Sophomore goalkeeper Lizzy MacDonald (Medford, Mass.) stopped eight shots for the Lancers.

Notes: The Bears set single-season team records for goals (86), assists (57) and points (229) eclipsing the previous marks of 82 goals, 52 assists and 216 points set in 2012.